Pakistan Christian Congress condemn life threats to Asia Bibi

02 Jan 2011

Islamabad: January 1, 2011. (PCP) Dr. Nazir S Bhatti, President of Pakistan Christian Congress PCC have strongly condemned slogans chanted in protest marches by Islamic parties “Hang Asia Bibi” and “Do not Touch blasphemy law” on December 31, 2010.
Nazir Bhatti said that it is shameful for Christian members of National Assembly even not dared to stage walk out but silently heard denial of Religious affairs Minister to repeal blasphemy law.
“Our claims come true that these Christian selected members of National Assembly are not representatives of 20 million Christians in Pakistan but tools of PPP, PML(N), PML(Q) and JUI(F) which have selected them” said Nazir Bhatti
The Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, KhursheedKhursheed Shah told National Assembly here on December 29, 2010, that government of Pakistan have no intention to repeal or amend blasphemy law and disowned private bill of a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) legislator Sherry Rehman seeking to amend the BlasphemyBlasphemy Act which was submitted in assembly secretariat.
After death sentence to Asia Bibi, a Christian mother of five, on accusations of defiling name of Prophet Mohammad, the dialogues among leaders of different walks of life to repeal blasphemy law were a hope to end violence against religious minorities on pretext to this law.
The Federal Minority Minister, Shahbaz Bhatti, who was selected by Pakistan Peoples Party PPP, have been claiming on International Forums on his tours to Europe and North America that he will present bill to repeal blasphemy law in National Assembly since 2009, but he failed to present it in 18th Amendment in constitution of Islamic Republic.
“I condemned those Christian religious and political leaders who campaigned for Joint Electorate system for Christians in Pakistan which snatched our right to elect our representatives by our votes and empowered Muslim political parties to select and impose their Christian tools on us. If we had elected representation in Assembly today, then there might have been voice against governments decision to repeal blasphemy law.
The Pakistani Christians have enjoyed election of their leadership by their votes for decades after formation of Pakistan which was turned down by PPP government in 1973 constitution but again from 1985-2000, it was restored. In 2002, General Parvez Musharraf imposed Joint Electorate or Selection of Christians in Parliament by Muslims to end voice of Christians in Pakistan.
Nazir S Bhatti said that Pakistan Christian Congress PCC will keep on campaigning for repeal of blasphemy in Pakistan.